Interview with Bernadette Meehan, the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation that operates Wikipedia: We asked in detail what Wikipedia aims to do in the AI era

New Wikimedia Foundation CEO-designate Bernadette Meehan spoke in Japan ahead of her January 2026 start date.

She outlined the foundation’s role in supporting Wikipedia’s infrastructure, governance, and volunteer editors rather than controlling content.

Meehan said the organization will keep backing contributors in the AI era, when misinformation, politicization, and automation pressure trusted knowledge sources.

She also highlighted the importance of community support, grants, and regional engagement across Asia-Pacific, including Japan and Taiwan.